Assassination Attempt and the Trackless Sea - Ch. 11 - Session 25
**Previous Session**: [https://www.reddit.com/r/stormkingsthunder/comments/kuawle/zdravko\_swims\_home\_from\_the\_grand\_dame\_ch11/](https://www.reddit.com/r/stormkingsthunder/comments/kuawle/zdravko_swims_home_from_the_grand_dame_ch11/) \- Our heroes pull off an information-heist aboard a Riverboat gambling cruise and learn where the Storm Giant King is: King Hekaton is magically subdued and being sailed around the northern islands of the Trackless Sea aboard a vessel immune to Divination and all but invisible beyond the range of 1 mile.
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**Cast**: Level 9
* Zep: Kenku Rogue/Warlock. * Zdravko: Human Monk (Barbarian re-flavored)/Fighter. * Lyra: Druid/Cleric. * Jormo: Tortle Wizard/Artificer (flavored as full Wizard). * Beau: Tabaxi Sorcerer/Warlock.
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They find the following entries in (the late) Khaspere Drylund's journal:
* "My masterpiece is nearly complete. After 'the Morkoth's' primary mission is finished, I'd like hand over operations of the Grand Dame and spend some time exploring the Sea of Swords – a life a treasure and exotic island cultures." (((Diagram included))) * "That Kraken-cultist from the island of 'Purple Rocks' returned to inform me the Giant Queen has been slain. Wish I could have been closer to the action – (((trails off rambling about he hopes to one day test the limits of his new powers)))." * "After waiting a Tenday on those excessively boring Purple Rock Islands, we finally mobilized. I expected a glorious combat – and it was, but not from my being there. I hadn't realized that posing as Lords' Alliance Emissaries to lure the Storm King relegated me to being bait; more of a prop really. He rose from the waters with thunder and lightning in his eyes, and just as quickly - it seemed – stumbled to his knee. Then a great Blue Dragon descended on him from nowhere! Its wings blacked out the sun! It was a privilege to witness such a spectacle, but by the gods did it reinforce how low I rank in the grand scheme of the planes." * "The Casino is to be used to gather them. Another Kraken Society agent is to lure the easy ones away. I'm told the less I know about the specifics the better. If I'm to be installed as Waterbaron one day, shouldn't I have enough autonomy to use my own discretion occasionally? Of course I don't dare ask for more. What have I gotten myself into?"
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The group leaves Yartar via the Harpers' teleportation circle and arrive back in the Harpers' main base: Moongleam Tower in Everlund. They converse with Krowen Valharrow about some of the islands in the Trackless Sea but the archmage sadly informs them that the Harpers have less of a presence among the scattered islands and no way to reliably teleport in.
They go outside to board Klauth's Airship but find that it's not there, even though it should have arrived back last night or early this morning by the latest. Lyra takes some time to cast Divination to seek an explanation for the Airship's absence and the spirits of the natural world tell her:
* "Klauth desires to keep his name clear of your exploration into the Trackless Sea and has withdrawn his support - for the time being at least."
Annoyed, but not deterred Beau suggests they teleport to one of the port cities to find passage aboard a seafaring vessel. With Beau's sailor background he's sure he can work his connections to make it come together. Once again they use the Harpers' Teleportation network and bampf on over to Neverwinter.
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When they arrive in the attic of the narrow row house on the edge of Neverwinter's Chasm District, they reminisce with the attendant mage Sanyse Thunderquill and she thanks them for the last time they were here. At that time she'd asked them to look into some hooded figures poking around the neighborhood which led our heroes to defeat a cell of Dragon Cultists. Now she tells them that there have been no further incursions by suspicious folk since!
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When they arrive at the docks Beau sees a very familiar vessel - the Swift Tide. He tries to avoid it but Jormo notices and inquires that finding a vessel was their reason for coming. Beau eventually reveals that the Swift Tide was the boat he'd been serving on before he met the rest of the party. He was supposed to go back to it as his contract hadn't expired, but got distracted after being kidnapped by the Kraken Society and meeting the party.
So Beau swallows his pride and goes to the Swift Tide, talks with the First Mate Karoth Harkett, and gains an audience with Captain Bagridaen Zorath who several members of the party recognize despite having never met her (when they first met Beau he'd used his recently gained Pact Magic to take on the visage of his former captain).
Bagridaen is intrigued enough by Beau's proposition to aimlessly wander the Trackless Sea that she vows to at least attempt to secure funding to make the voyage.
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In the meantime the party hangs around a Harbor District tavern for several days while waiting on Bagridaen to come through with funding.
One day as they're walkking around town 5 figures all wearing hooded cloaks suddenly dash in, converge on them, and attack without warning!
Zdravko, even though surprised, notices immediately that the trim of each hood is patterned with scales and colored so that one of each of the hooded figures represents the colors of the 5 heads of Tiamat and the 5 types of Chromatic Dragons!!
The figure in the green hood is already upon the Monk of Bahamut and plunges his poisoned blade deep into Zdravko's side - Jormo is able to mitigate some of the damage with his Arcane Ward - but it was a deadly strike and still gravely injured Zdravko. With a snarl the attacker says, "The Gathering Storm sends her regards!"
Lyra's keen perception keeps her from being caught completely off guard and she releases a powerful Thunderwave on the figure in the black hood, instantly shattering the bones in his body as he flies back, dead.
The hooded figure in Red attempts to conjure a weapon comprised of magical force but Jormo cancels it with Counterspell.
White and Blue hooded figures attempt to slash at the party with curved dragon-tooth daggers but even with the advantage of surprise can't land the hits.
Jormo engulfs the white and green hooded figures in restraining black tentacles.
Zdravko is enraged at the sight of Tiamat cultists and his finely-honed monk training overpowers his surprise and he pummels the cultists repeatedly.
Lyra flies above the red hooded figure and lashes him up into the air with a Thorny Whip before letting him slam back down to the ground. He stands back up and tries to put a protective magical shield around himself with Jormo once again Counterspells. Very angry he runs at the Tortle and attempts to slash him with another curved dragon-tooth dagger but fails against the Wizard's turtle shell.
Beau and Zdravko make quick work of the remaining cultists. As the red hooded figure falls down dead a red-orange bead falls from his gaping mouth. Jormo investigates it and realizes its a variation on a Fireball Bead that releases the fireball spell from the bead when crushed; the cultist had been killed before he got a chance to chomp down on it in a kamikaze-style farewell.
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Later First Mate Karoth Harkett finds them and informs them that Bagridaen has secured funding and they should be sure to be ready to depart for the Trackless Sea by sunrise in two days. They rest up and make final preparations before meeting with the Captain.
Bagridaen asks for the specifics of their quest and Beau tells her most everything. She's quick to point out that on her ship her word is as good as law and asks if they can abide by that arrangement. She adds that in the specifics of their own quest they would have more autonomy. Everyone eventually agrees.
She also mentions that an anonymous donor took interest in their voyage and has covered a month of expenses. When asked the captain would not reveal who the donor was.
Before they set sail she also asked Zdravko if he's from the land of Thesk, far to the east of Faerun. She noticed his accent was similar to some refugees from Milvarune she gave passage to recently. Some trouble is brewing there and now Zdravko wonders if it's related to the corruption of his monastery at the hands of Fiends which drove him away.
As the first sliver of sun slides above the horizon the Swift Tide leaves Neverwinter's harbor and sails out towards the Trackless Sea.
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Continued - [https://www.reddit.com/r/stormkingsthunder/comments/mexd4f/a\_dull\_three\_days\_and\_a\_very\_frightening\_morning/](https://www.reddit.com/r/stormkingsthunder/comments/mexd4f/a_dull_three_days_and_a_very_frightening_morning/)